Shifting conveyer.



PATENTED JULY 9. 1907 C. W. CAMP. SHIFTING GONVEYER.

PPLIOATION FILED rma. 2a. 190s.

CHRISTIAN w. cAMP, or METAMOEA, ILLINOIS.

SHIFTING GONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed February 23, 1906. Serial No. 802,534.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN W. CAMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Metamora, in the county of Woodford and, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shifting Conveyers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others Skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to shifting conveyers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and simple form of reversing mechanism for conveyers and one that can be produced at low cost but at the same time be practicable and thoroughly efficient. l

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and simple mechanism for changing the direction of travel of the drag in a shifting conveyer in which no expensive parts are necessary.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for automatically shifting the conveyer along its track.

In the appended drawing, Figurel is a side elevation of the conveyer` and the head of an elevator showing my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end view of the conveyer showing also a side view of the elevator head. Fig. 3 is a front view of the reversing mechanism showing parts in section in order to show the interior arrangement. Fig. 4 is a top view of the reversing mechanism showing parts in section.

A indicates the conveyer suitably carried by wheels B mounted on a suspended track C usually located in -the top of the building in which grain is to be stored,

and D is a stationary elevator whose upper end is located so as to discharge grain into the conveyer. Running through the conveyer is the usual drag E carried on wheels F, Fig. 2, on a shaft G, at each end of said conveyer` as shown in Fig. l. Each said shaft is provided in addition to the wheels F with sprocket wheels H H outside the conveyer over which runs a sprocket chain J. The elevator D is likewise provided with the usual drag K and the upper shaft L which carries it is fitted with a sheave M. Secured beneath the elevatorhead and close to the conveyer is a housing N carrying two shafts O, P parallel to the shafts G of the said conveyer. The shafts O, P are provided within said housing with sprocket wheels Q and R respectively. These shafts also carry outside the housing sprocket wheels S, T over which runs a chain U. The upper shaft O is further provided with a sheave O lying in a plane Aat right angles to and directly beneath the sheave-wheel. M of the elevator. A chain V running over these wheels serves to transmit power from the elevator drag K, which derives its power from any desired source, to

the shaft O and finally to the shaft l? through the chain U already mentioned.

The chain J of the conveyer is designed to run through the housing N upon one or the other of the sprocket wheels Q, R and means is providedfor changing the chain from one to the other. This said means consists first of a pair of arms W pivoted to the inside of the housing each side of the sprockets Q, R and midway between them as shown as in Figs. 3 and 4. Between the free extremities of these pairs of arms are secured at right angles the short arms X. Between each extremity of each pair of short arms are carried rollers 2, there being a pair of such rollers at each side of the housing and in Fig. 3 it will be seen that the chain J of the conveyer is designed to run through .the pairs of rollers.

At 4 is a cranked shaft to the cranked end of which is loosely attached a pair of arms 5 the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the short arms X before mentioned. The opposite end of the shaft 4 carries a semicircular member 6 which is grooved to receive a rope 7 and to which said rope is secured7 the ends of the latter hanging within reach of the operator of the mechanism. It will be noted that by pulling one end of the rope the cranked shaft 4 will be rocked and if the crank is raised as shown in Fig. l the lower rollers 2 will lift the chain J into engagement with the top wheel Q of the reversing mechanism.` Let it be supposed that said wheel Q is being driven always toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 by the chain V of the elevator. Now, when the chain J is engaged with said wheel it follows that said chain must travel toward the left causing the drag E of the conveyer to travel in a like direction, the grain entering such conveyer being, therefore, discharged at the left end of that member. Since the wheel R is also driven toward the right through the chain U it follows that when the chain J is lowered into engagement therewith the direction of the chain will be opposite in movement from what it was before and in consequence the grain will be discharged at the right of the conveyer. This results, of course,`when the crank of the shaft 4 is down as in Fig. 3. When the crank is located half way between the highest and lowest position the chain will be held midway between the sprockets Q and R and no motion will be imparted thereto. Suitable means may be provided at the free ends of the ropes 7 for securing them whereby the chain J may be held in positive engagement with either wheel or be entirely freed therefrom. In addition to discharging the grain from either end of the conveyerthe mechanism is used to shift the said conveyer automatically. Since the housing N is stationary and the conveyr is movable it follows that said conveyer will be free to and must travel along its track when released, by the action of the chain J driven from the elevator, since there will be less resistance to its travel than to that of driving the drag E therethrough. If, therefore7 the ropes 8, which are attached to each end of the conveyer and pass over pulleys 9 on a suitable support, are

The elevator, of course, retains a fixed position, the

conveyer traveling beneath it.

In Fig. 2 certain parts are omitted in order to better show the main construction, the other gures clearly illustrating the mechanism.

If desired to drive the drag E in one direction only but one of the wheels Q R need be used and the mechanism may be constructed without the other.

Evidently other equivalent structures may be used that will accomplish the same work as the-mechanism described and shown and Ido not, therefore, wish to confine myself to any stated form.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a conveyer, a member for driving the conveying element, power devices for imparting movement to the member in either direction such devices each traveling in but one given direction and means for holding the member in engagement with one or the other of the devices.

2. In a conveyer, a drag-operating member, a power driven device at each side of the member for engaging and driving it, and means for shifting the member from one to the other of the said devices.

3..In a conveyer, a member for driving the conveying element, power devices for imparting movement to the member in either direction, such devices each moving in but one given direction, and means for holding the member in engagement with either one 'of the said devices and for moving such member from one device to the other.

4. In a conveyer', a member for driving the conveying element, power devices for imparting movement to the `member in either direction, such devices each revolving always in but one given direction, and means for carrying the member into engagement with either of the said devices an'd there sustaining it.

5. In a conveyer, a member for driving the conveying element, power devices for imparting movement to the member, such devices each revolving always in but one given direction, and means for carrying the member into engagement with one or the other of the devices for changing its direction Iof travel.

G. In a conveyer, power devices, a member for driving the conveying element, and means for moving the member into engagement with the said power devices.

7. In a conveyer, a pair of power devices traveling in one direction only, a member between them and adapted for driving engagement with either device for driving the conveying element, and means for changing the driving relation of the member and the devices.

8. In a conveyer, a pair of power wheels each adapted to travel in but one and the same direction, a travelingmember betweenI said wheels for driving the conveying element, and means for holding the member free of both wheels and also for positively engaging it with either of said wheels for the purposes set forth. 9. In a conveyer', a pair of power wheels, each revolving in but one direction and both revolving in the same direction, an endless flexible member havingvone of its stretches between the wheels and adapted for driving the conveying element, and means for shifting and positively holding the member in engagement with either wheel and for sustaining the member in an inoperative position between the two said wheels.

l0. A conveyer comprising a drag for delivering grain at either of its ends and adapted to shift bodily in the direction of its length for the purposes described, an endless driving member for moving the drag and a pair 'of driving wheels between which one of the stretches of the endless member is positioned, the drag moving in one direction when the endless member engages one of the said driving wheels and moving in the opposite direction when the said member engages the other driving wheel.

11. A conveyer comprising a drag for receiving grain and delivering it at either end thereof and adapted to shift bodily in the direction of its length for the purposes set forth, an endless driving member for driving the drag in either direction, a pair of continuously moving driving Wheels for the said member with one or the other of which said member is adapted `to engage, one of said Wheels moving it in a given direction and the other moving it in the opposite direction.

12. A conveyer comprising a drag for receiving grain and delivering it at either end thereof and adapted to shift bodily in the direction of its length for the purposes set forth, a pair of contnuouslyrevolving driving wheels fixed in position, an endless member for driving the drag, one of its stretches being positioned between the said wheels to positively engage one or the other or remain idle midway between them, the adjacent faces of the wheels moving in contrary directions for the purposes explained.

13. A conveyer comprising a drag for receiving grain and delivering it at either end thereof and adapted to shift bodily in the direction of its length for the purposes set forth, said drag being normally held against such bodily movement, a pair of continuously revolving driving wheels, fixed in position an endless member adapted for engaging one or the other of the wheels, to drive the drag and also adapted to be free of both wheels while stationed midway between them to permit the drag to remain stationary, the said endless member when in engagement with either vwheel adapted also to shift the drag as described when the latter is released from its normal fixed position.

14. A shiftable conveyor having a drag therein, a chain outside the conveyer for imparting movement to the drag, and a pair of driven wheels between which said chain travels and with one or the other of which it is adapted to engage for the purposes explained.

15, A shiftable conveyer having a drag therein, an endless member for imparting movement to the drag, and a pair of continuously driven wheels between which the chain travels and with one 0r the other of which it is adapted to engage.

16. A shiftable conveyer having a drag therein, an endless member for driving the drag, a pair of wheels continuously driven in one direction and between which 'a stretch of the chain is positioned, said chain when in engagement with one of the Wheels traveling in aI given di rection and when in engagement with the other wheel traveling in the opposite direction.

17. A shiftableeonveyer having a drag therein, a chain for driving the conveyer, a pair of wheels continuously driven in the same direction and between which the chain is positioned, said chain traveling in a given direction when in engagement with one of the wheels but made to travel in the other direction when removed-therefrom and placed in engagement with the other Wheel.

18. A shiftable conveyer having a drag therein, a chain for driving the conveyer, a`pair of continuously driven wheels both moving in the same direction and between which the chain travels, said chain having a difterent direction of travel when in engagement 'with one of the wheels than when engaging the other wheel, and means for changing the relation of the chain and wheels and holding the former in positive engagement with either the latter.

19. A shiftable conveyer having a drag therein, a chain for driving the conveyer, a pair of continuously driven wheels both moving in the same direction and between which the chain travels, said chain having a different direction of travel when in engagement with one of the wheels than when engaging the other wheel, and means for changing the relation of the chain and Wheels and holding the former in positive engagement with either the latter or out of engagement with both of them for the purposes explained.

20. A shiftable lconveyer having a drag therein io'r4 moving grain, endless means for imparting movement to the drag, a pair of wheels each revolving in the same direction, the said endless means adapted for traveling between the wheels and adapted also when in engagement with one of them to drlve the drag in a given direction, and adapted when in engagement with the opposite Wheel to drive the drag in the opposite direction, and means for placing the endless means in engagement with one or the other of the wheels or for disconnecting the same from both said wheels.

21. A conveyer comprising a drag for receiving and delivering grain as described, an endless member for imparting motion thereto, a pair of continuously driven wheels between which the member is positioned and with either one of which it is adapted to engage for driving the drag in one direction or the other, said Wheel traveling in the same direction, their adjacent edges movingvin contrary directions in consequence, and manually operated means for positively engaging the endless member with either Wheel or for disengaging it from said wheels to stop the drag, there being three positions of said lmeans for the purposes described.

22. A conveyer comprising a drag adapted for traveling in either direction and shiftable in the direction of its length, a driving wheel at each end thereof, an endless member adapted to drive both Wheels substantially as shown, a pair of continuously moving driving Wheels having a fixed position relative to the said shiftable drag, the endless member adapted for engagement With either of the latter wheels but also adapted for disconnection for both wheels to stop movement of 'the drag, the latter being normally xed in position as regards its ability to shift lengthwise but shiftablc by hand when released and at the time said endless member is disengaged from the driving Wheels, the drag also shiftable by the endless member when it is in engagement with one of the driving Wheels.

23. A shiftable conveyer comprising a drag, a sprocket chain for driving it, a pair of sprocket Wheels placed one above another, one stretch of the chain lying between them and adapted to engage one or the other for the purposes explained, a pair of rollers at each side of the driving wheels through which the chain runs, arms for carrying the rollers and means in connection therewith for raising or lowering the rollers to change the chain from one Wheel to the other or sustain it midway between the tWo for the purposes set forth.

24. A shifting conveyer comprising the conveyer body, a track for the same along which it is designed to travel, a shaft at each end of the conveyer body, a drag member carried by the same, wheels on the shaft for moving the shafts and the drag, a sprocket chain carried on the said wheels, a pair of driving sprocket Wheels in the same plane with the sprocket chain, one of the Wheels being above the other, one stretch of the chain lying between said wheels and adapted for engagement with one or the other of them, a pair of shifting-rollers at each side of the driving sprockets through which the chain runs and means for carrying them and adjusting them vertically, said means being adjustable to fixed positions when the chain is made to engage either sprocket or when it is held entirely free thereof.

25, In a shifting conveyer, a member for driving the conveying element and shifting the conveyer, power means operated in one direction only and with which the member engages and by which it is adapted to be reversed in direction of travel to change the direction of travel of the conveying element or to shift the conveyer by changing its relation to such power means, and means for holding the conveyer from moving when located in position.

26. In a shifting conveyer, power means revoluble in but one direction, Wheels driven thereby whose adjacent faces travel in opposite direction, an endless traveling member on the conveyer having one of its stretches lying between the wheels for separately engaging one or the other ot them, means for shifting the member into engagement with one or the other of the wheels for changing its direction of travel or for disengaging it from both, and means for holding the conveyer in a xed position when the member is disengaged, said conveyer when released traveling in one direction or the other according to the driving relation of the `member and wheels.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN W. CAMP.

Witnesses JOSEPH EICAMP, B.`F. NAFZIGER. 

